No matter how much time I spend in the San Rafael Swell, I always feel like there is so much more to see! This is the case with Joe Hole I was passing through the Swell and searching for a place to wander I hadn't wandered before Joe Hole, with its easy access right off the Green River Cutoff road, fit the bill nicely I hadn't heard anything about this obscure and, at least as far as the map went, not very interesting looking canyon but decided to check it out anyway It turns out Joe Hole is a gem of a hike A short...

The Stansbury Mountains seem often overlooked when compared to the much more heavily travelled mountains along the Wasatch Front Though not as dramatic, large, or expansive, the Stansbury Mountains hold a lot of charm in my opinion and, importantly to me, are a great place to find some solitude and space without crowds This hike visits the South and North Willow Lakes Many hikers do Deseret Peak, the Tooele County high point, as their first hike in the range and often don't return to the range to explore further Wi...

If you have ever driven this far out on the Hole-In-The-Rock Road, you have likely noticed Cave Point Like Sooner Rocks and Fiftymile Spring, Cave Point is an exposed area of Entrada Sandstone Entrada Sandstone is the layer that features prominently in Arches National Park Its soft structure weathers into rounded domes, potholes, arches, and deep overhangs Cave Point has obvious deep overhangs visible from the road, an...

Moonhouse, in my opinion, is one of the most interesting ruins that is easy to visit on Cedar Mesa It is estimated to have been constructed about 800 years ago, with a unique design The ruins namesake room, Moon House, is a room with the moon painted on opposite walls Access is easy via a relatively short, but stunning hike The trail descends from the mesa, crosses the canyon, and visits Moon House proper, as well as several other ruins, granaries, and a kiva in the area Moon House Ruin is one not to be missed in m...

A stone's throw from Salt Lake City, City Creek canyon feels a world away The pioneers, when they settled Salt Lake, used water from City Creek to irrigate their fields, and help develop the budding city The canyon is still used as part of the city’s water supply today, with a water treatment plant situated several miles up the canyon Historical fun fact, the upper reaches of the canyon have both a mining history, and a bootlegging history City Creek Canyon is one of my favorite quick outings in the city The gentle...

The Shooting Gallery is one of the must-see areas of Basin and Range National Monument The area is named the Shooting Gallery because evidence suggests early peoples used the area to channel and drive game to hunters that were hidden in the narrow valley The valley has seasonal water, and must have been an idyllic place to hunt as well as spend time when there was water It is believed that several groups of people used the area anywhere from between about 500 and 2000 years ago They left behind rock art among the b...

Sid and Charley, named after brothers Sid and Charley Swasey who lived in the Swell in the early 1900's, is an Entrada tower standing in a lonely northwestern corner of the Swell The tower is infrequently visited, but makes a great outing It was first climbed in 2001 by Layne Potter at a grade of 510 C0, then later free'd at a rated 510+ That being said, if your not too proud to pull on bolts and possibly use a stick clip, this can be done at a very moderate 57 C0 or so The climbing is surprisingly fun, with great ...

Established in 1965, Seedskadee Wildlife Refuge is an oasis in the otherwise bleak, high desert of Wyoming The 26,400 acre refuge provides a welcome break in the limitless sagebrush plains Visited as early as the 1300's by Native Americans, over 200 species of birds have been spotted here, not to mention many types of mammals and other wildlife that call the area home The area was used, more recently, by travelers moving west in the mid-1800's Some of the old wagon ruts are still visible in the area On even a short...

Egypt 2 is famous for its often photographed first rappel The canyon starts with a bang from the trailhead and offers the adventurous canyoneer the option of a 90 m rappel right from the trailhead, or a much less dramatic 30 m rappel a few minutes further down along the rim Either choice deposits you in a stunning canyon The upper slot is fairly wide, with typically one short rappel early on As the canyon deepens, it also narrows offering several stunning long narrow sections and a few down climbs to keep it intere...

The La Verkin Creek trail offers a stunning, and long day hike to the Kolob Arch viewpoint Until the early 21st century, Kolob Arch was believed to be the worlds largest free standing arch At 2874 feet, the arch is now considered the second longest spanning arch in the world, behind Landscape Arch in Arches National Park Reaching the viewpoint is a long hike, about 14 miles and 1000' of gain, and not a day hike to take lightly Much of the hike will be in full sun, bring at least 3 quarts and start early in hot time...